Register transfer device



Nov. 29, 1966 STAUTMEISTER 3,288,363

REGISTER TRANSFER DEVICE Filed May 21, 1965 nited States Patent 3,288,363 REGISTER TRANSFER DEVICE Erich Stautmeister, Marhurg, Germany, assignor to Alfred Engelmann, Wennebastel, Germany Filed May 21, 11.965, Ser. No. 457,670 4 Claims. (Ci. 235-134) The present invention relates to a register transfer arrangement and more particularly to a tens transfer arrangement for an ordinal register in which a register wheel or number wheel is provided for each decimal order.

Registers as used in meters, totalizers, or counters have interconnected register wheels, and the drive of the register is directly applied only to the register wheel of the lowest order which is turned between digital positions representing units. Whenever the unit register wheel has made one revolution, a unit is transferred to the next higher order by moving the respective register wheel to the next following digital position. In a decimal register, the register wheel of the respective next higher order is shifted when the register wheel of the next lower order assumes a transfer position while passing from the digital position associated with the digit 9 to the digital position associated with the digit 0.

The energy and power required for the shifting of the register wheels of all orders higher than the lowest order, must be provided by the drive means by which the register wheel of the lowest order is driven.

In a certain position of the register, units have to be transferred in all orders, so that the drive means has to supply the power required for operating all transfer devices of the several orders of the register. Consequently, the motor providing the drive force must be designed for a peak load which is far greater than the power required for normal operation in which not all transfer devices are simultaneously actuated, and the drive motor of the register must be designed in proportion to the number of register wheels and transfer devices.

It is one object of the present invention to overcome this disadvantage of transfer arrangements for registers according to the prior art, and to provide a transfer arrangement in which the drive motor is subjected to a substantially uniform load without high peaks.

It has been proposed to provide springs for accumulating energy and for shifting individual register wheels to the next higher digital position during a transfer. Each spring is tensioned by a cam driven by the register wheel of the respective next lower order. However, due to the high friction of the cam, substantially the same peak load was developed as in the standard construction.

It is another object of the present invention to provide independent transfer devices for each order of a register, and to actuate the transfer devices individually by mechanical means which produce practically no additional friction.

A related object of the invention is to provide a register with independent ordinal transfer devices in which each transfer is accomplished by a spring tensioned during rotation of the register wheel without pressing two relatively movable parts into frictional engagement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a register with a plurality of individual transfer devices which do not produce substantial additional friction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a register wheel with a transfer arrangement permitting operation of the drive motor of the register at a substantially constant load whereby a motor of lower power than in conventional register arrangements can be used for driving the register.

Another object of the invention is to provide a register arrangement in which a drive motor of comparatively "ice low power is capable of driving a great number of register wheels so that the register can be constructed for a very great number of orders.

With'these objects in view, one embodiment of the invention comprises first and second register wheels respectively associated with successive lower and higher orders, shifting means, preferably including a pawl for turning the second register wheel one step to the next following digital position when the first register wheel passes through a transfer position; biasing means for the shifting means; and coupling means connecting the first register wheel with the shifting means.

During the turning movement of the first register wheel toward the transfer position, the coupling means displaces the shifting means so that the biasing means are tensioned, and when the first register wheel arrives in a transfer position, the coupling means is disengaged so that the shifting means can move under the action of the biasing means to a position in which the second register wheel of the higher order is turned one step to the next following digital position.

Due to the fact that the coupling and disengagement of the coupling means does not cause any substantial friction, no additional load is placed on the drive means by which the first register wheel is driven. The force required for tensioning each biasing means is distributed over almost an entire revolution of each register wheel so that no peak loads develop. The power required for actually shifting the register wheel to register a transferred unit, is not added to the load of the drive means, but is momentarily provided by the biasing means when the same passes from a tensioned condition to a released condition.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the coupling means includes a turnable coupling member having agear segment and turnably supporting a shifting means which is constructed as a shifting pawl biased by a spring to move toward and to engage a ratchet wheel secured to the register wheel of the respective next higher order. The register wheel of the respective next lower order has a plurality of projections which during the turning movement of the register wheel turn'the coupling member to tension the spring of the shifting pawl. In the transfer position of the register wheel of the lower order, a greater space between two projections causes the release of the coupling member which drops to its normal position of rest while the spring moves the shifting pawl to cause turning of the ratchet wheel together with the register wheel of the next higher order. After the register wheel of the lower order has passed through the transfer position, the projections of theregister wheel of the respective lower order mesh again with the gear segment of the coupling member to turn the same gradually so that the shifting pawl is displaced, and the biasing spring tensioned until the register wheel of the lower order again reaches its transfer position which, in a decimal register, is between the digit positions associated with the digits 9 and 0.

Due to the fact that an almost friction free engagement between the meshing projections and the gear segment of the coupling member can be achieved, no additional friction losses are caused, and the power required for tensioning the springs of the several transfer devices is uniformly distributed.

In a register or counter in accordance with the invention, the maximum number of orders and register wheels is not substantially limited by the power of the motor available for driving the register through the register wheel of the lowest order. .Since the power required for the transfer operation is distributed over most steps of register wheels associated with lower orders, the theoretical peak load acting on the drive motor depending on the number of orders and register wheels corresponds to the rapidly approaching total of a geometrical progression. The additional friction forces developed in the arrangement of the present invention are so low that the converging of the geometrical progression is not substantially influenced. A maximum output can be determined for the drive motor which will not be exceeded irrespective of the number of register wheels provided in the register.

Another advantage of the invention is that the torque acts on the drive always in the same direction of rotation. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, all register wheels are mounted on a common drive shaft which is operatively connected to the register wheel of the lowest order to drive the register, and which is driven by a motor. The drive shaft has an axially extending groove, and each register wheel has a small leaf spring mounted in the central bore of the respective register wheel and sliding on the periphery of the drive shaft while rotating in one direction to register a number.

When at the end of a registering operation, clearing of the register is desired, the drive shaft is rotated in the same direction of rotation as before so that the springs of the register wheels snap successively into the groove of the drive shaft, are coupled with the same, and are turned until all register wheels assume a cleared position. In this manner, the spring and groove connection between the register wheels and the drive shaft acts as a one-way clutch.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of opertaion, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary exploded schematic front view illustrating two register wheels and a transfer device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary schematic side elevation, partially in section along line 22, and illustrating a first operational position of a transfer device;

FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 but illustrating another operational position of the transfer device;

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIGS. 2 and 3 and illustrating a third operational position of the transfer device; and

FIGS. 5a, 5b, and 5c illustrating successive positions of the drive shaft and register wheel during a clearing operation.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a series of register wheels is mounted for free turning movement on a shaft 10, only two adjacent register wheels 1 and 2 being illustrated in FIG. 1 for the sake of simplicity. Register wheel 1 is associated with a lower order, and register wheel 2 is associated with a higher order. Drive means, not shown, are connected to the register wheel of the lowest order for driving the same. A transfer device is provided between each pair of register wheels for transferring a unit to the respective higher register wheel from the respective lower register wheel when the latter passes through a transfer position, for example from the digit position 9 to the digit position 0 during an addition performed by a decimal register. Only the transfer device between register wheels 1 and 2 is illustrated, and it will be understood that the other transfer devices are constructed in the same manner.

Each register wheel carries on one side a plurality of pins 3 projecting in axial direction, and being uniformly spaced from each other with the exception of two pins 30:

which are spaced a greater distance from each other than from the other pins 3. Each register wheel carries on the other side thereof, a ratchet wheel 9. A coupling member 4 shaped as a bell crank lever is mounted for angular turning movement on a stationary shaft 5, and has at the free end of one of its arms, a gear segment 4a whose teeth and recesses are constructed to mesh with the projecting pins 3. The other arm of coupling member 4 carries a shifting pawl 6 on a pivot pin 5a.

Shifting pawl 6 is located in the plane of the ratchet wheel 9 of register wheel 2, while coupling member 4 is located in the plane of the pins 3 of register wheel 1. A spring 7 connects an arm of the angular shifting pawl 6 to a stationary point, not shown, and urges shifting pawl 6 to turn in clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 to a position resting on ratchet wheel 9. Shaft 5 may be mounted on the frame of the register on which shaft 10 is also mounted, and support all coupling members 4 for free turning movement.

Spring 7 exerts a biasing force on shifting pawl 6, and also urges coupling member 4 to turn in clockwise direction to the position of FIG. 4 in which coupling member 4 rests on a stationary stop 4b. However, coupling member 4 can move to the position of FIG. 4 only if the associated register wheel 1 is in a position in which the projecting pins 3 of register wheel 1 are disposed as shown in FIG. 4 so that the greater gap between the two pins 3a permits passage of coupling member 4. The positions of pins 3 on each register wheel are so selected that the position of FIG. 4 is the transfer position of the register wheel in which a unit has to be transferred to the register wheel of the next higher order. The register is assumed to be a decimal register, so that each register wheel is turnable through ten digital positions, and each register wheel is arrested in the respective digital positions by a resilient catch 8 Whose spring 8a has only little power.

Assuming that register wheel 1 turns from the position represented by its pins 3 in FIG. 4 in clockwise direction, the lower pin 3a will engage the highest recess of the gear segment 4a and will turn coupling member 4 in counterclockwise direction. During further movement, the next following pin 3 engages the second recess of the gear segment 411, until the position of FIG. 2 is reached in which register wheel 1 is in a digital position representing the digit 4. During such turning movement, pivot 5a is displaced toward the left as viewed in FIG. 2, and spring 7 is tensioned while shifting pawl 6 is moved to the left while sliding on the back of a tooth of ratchet wheel 9 of register wheel 2 which is prevented from turning by the resilient catch 8.

When register wheel 1 is turned an additional five steps to the position represented by pins 3 in FIG. 3, a pin 3a has arrived at the end of the gear segment, and turned coupling member the greatest possible angle so that pivot 5a and shifting pawl 6 are displaced far enough to the left as viewed in FIG. 3 to permit the point 611 of shifting pawl 6 to pass over the highest point of the ratchet tooth and to drop onto the next following ratchet tooth under the action of the spring 7 which is in its most tensioned condition.

The position illustrated in FIG. 3 corresponds to the digital position of register wheel 1 representing the digit 9, and when register wheel 1 is turned a further step to the digital position representing 0, it passes through a transfer position in which the upper pin 3a releases coupling member 4 so that the accumulated energy of spring 7 is released. Shifting pawl 6 is shifted to the right from the position of FIG. 3 to the position of FIG. 4, turning register wheel 2 one step to the next following digital position whereby a unit is transferred to register wheel 2. The movement of shifting pawl 6 to the right is possible since coupling member 4 is now free to turn in clockwise direction to the position of FIG. 4, and directly thereafter register wheel 1 assumes its zero position in which pins 3 are in the position shown in FIG. 4.

It will be seen that spring 7 is gradually tensioned during almost an entire revolution of the respective reg 1ster wheel, namely while the register wheel turns from zero position beyond the position representing the digit 9. Only a very short time is required for shifting the next higher register wheel to the next following digital position, and the force for the shifting operation is provided by spring 7, and not by the drive means of the register so that no peak load occurs, even if all register wheels simultaneously pass through the transfer positions.

The engagement between the coupling parts 3 on register wheel l and coupling member 4 which acts on register wheel 2 produces only very little friction, and no friction has to be overcome during movement of the coupling member in clockwise direction for shifting the next higher register wheel one unit.

It will be seen that coupling member 4 and pins 3 constitute a coupling means connecting register wheel 1 with shifting means 6 in such a manner that spring 7 of shifting means 6 is tensioned during movement of the first register wheel toward the transfer position, while the coupling means 3, 4 are disengaged in the transfer position of register wheel 1 and permit the spring loaded shifting means 6 to turn register wheel 2 to the next following digital position.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, oneway clutch means are provided for connecting shaft 10 with all register wheels during a clearing operation.

As shown in FIGS. a, 5b and 50, each register wheel, for example register wheel 2, has a central bore 2a in which shaft 110 is located. Shaft has an axially extending straight groove 10a of triangular cross section. Each register wheel has a notch 2b in which a small leaf spring 11 is secured in such a manner that the inner end of the leaf spring slides on the periphery surface of shaft 10.

Assuming that the register wheels have registered a number different from 0, they will be in positions in which the respective spring 11 is not located in the notch 10a of shaft 10. This position is shown in FIG. St: for register wheel 2.

When it is desired to clear the register, clearing shaft 10 is turned in clockwise direction as indicated by an arrow until spring 11 of the respective register wheel snaps into notch 10a, as shown for register Wheel 2 in FIG. 5b. Further turning of shaft 10 in clockwise direction will cause turning of the register wheel in the same direction since spring 11 couples the register wheel to shaft 10. Other register wheels which are in different digit positions will also be coupled to shaft 10 when the respective spring 11 snaps into recess 10a in a position of shaft 10 in which recess 10a registers with the notch 2b in the respective register wheel.

In this manner, all register wheels will be successively coupled to shaft 10, and when the same finally arrives in the position of FIG. 50, all register wheels will have been turned to zero positions, and are cleared.

During the registering operations of the register, the register wheels turn also in clockwise direction on shaft 10 so that the one-way clutch means 11, 10a are not effective due to the undercut cross sectional shape of recess 10a.

The register wheel of the lowest order is driven in clockwise direction by drive means, not shown, so that its spring 11 passes over notch 10a in clearing shaft 10 which is held non-turnable during operation of the register. Due to the fact that the shifting means 6, 7 associated with all register wheels of orders higher than the lowest order turn the associated register wheels during the transfer operation in clockwise direction relative to clearing shaft 10, no engagement of the one-way clutch means 11, 10a of the orders from the second order to the highest order can take place.

In view of the above, it will be appreciated that the transfer arrangement of the present invention permits a very simple and efiicient construction in which the support shaft of the register also performs the function of a clearing means when being turned to a position in which the register wheel of the lowest order is in zero position.

The lowest register wheel of the register may be driven by a drive motor, not shown, while shaft 10 is used only as clearing means, as described with reference to FIGS. 5a to 5c.

The combination of the above explained clearing arrangement with the transfer devices of the presentinvention has the particular advantage that is not necessary to disengage the several transfer devices from the register wheels during the clearing operation, as is necessary in constructions according to the prior art.

Since very little force is required for clearing the register wheels in the arrangement of the present invention, a very small motor is required for delivering the power for the clearing operation, and consequently the drive motor of the register can beused for providing the power for the clearing operation and selectively coupled in the clearing shaft 10 on the register wheel of the lowest order.

A shiftable coupling either causes driving of the register wheel of the lowest order by the drive means, or driving of the clearing shaft 10. In this event, an electromagnetic stepwise drive is automatically interrupted during the clearing operation. However, even if a separate drive means is provided for the clearing operation, and another drive means for the register the arrangement is substantially simplified as compared with the prior-art, since similar drive means can be used for the clearing operation and for the drive of the register.

The disclosed embodiment of the transfer device of the invention provides a gear segment 4a with which axially projecting pins 3 cooperate. It will be appreciated that the gear segment may be provided with standard teeth meshing with an interrupted gear on the lower register wheel which performs the function of pins 3. It is also possible to mount coupling member 4 for translatory movement instead of turning movement, for example, a rack bar meshing with an interrupted gear on register wheel 1 may shift and release the shifting means 6, 7.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of register transfer arrangements differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a spring loaded shifting means for turning the register wheels of the higher orders one step during passage of a register wheel of a lower order through a transfer position, and being gradually tensioned during turning movement of the lower register wheel to the transfer position, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A- transfer arrangement for an ordinal register, comprising, in combination, first and second register wheels respectively associated with successive lower and higher orders, and being turnable between digital positions, one of said digital positions of said first register wheel being a transfer position; shifting means movable between first and second positions for turning said second register wheel one step to the next following digital position; biassing means for urging said shifting means to said second position; and coupling means connecting said first register wheel with said shifting means, said coupling means including a coupling member supported for turning movement and turnably supporting said shifting means, said coupling member having a gear segment, and a plurality of axially projecting pins connected with said first register wheel for rotation and meshing with said gear segment of said coupling member during turning movement of said first register wheel toward said transfer position so that said shifting means is moved to said first position, said plurality of pins being spaced along an arc concentric with said first register wheel and extending along said are over at least 180 but substantially less than 360 thereof so as to release said coupling member in said transfer position so that said biassing means moves said shifting means to said second position whereby said second wheel is turned to the next following digital position and a unit is transferred.

2. A transfer arrangement for an ordinal register, comprising, in combination, first and second register wheels respectively associated with successive lower and higher orders, and being turnable between digital positions, one of said digital positions of said first register wheel being a transfer position; shifting means movable between first and second positions for turning said second register wheel one step to the next following digital position; biassing means for urging said shifting means to said second position; and coupling means connecting said first register wheel with said shifting means, said coupling means including a coupling member supported for turning movement and turnably supporting said shifting means, said coupling member having a gear segment, and a plurality of axially projecting pins connected to said first register wheel for turning movement therewith and meshing with said gear segment of said coupling member during turning movement of said first register wheel toward said transfer position whereby said coupling member is turned so that said shifting means is moved to said first position, said plurality of pins being located along an arc concentric with said first register wheel and extending over at least 180 but substantially less than 360, the outermost ones of said plurality of pins being out of the path of movement of said gear segment when said first register wheel is in said transfer position thereof and releasing said gear segment of said coupling member in said transfer position so that said spring means moves said shifting means to said second position whereby said second wheel is turned to the next following digital position and a unit is transferred.

3. A transfer arrangement for an ordinal register, comprising, in combination, first and sec-nd register wheels respectively associated with successive lower and higher orders, and being turnable about a first axis between digital positions, one of said digital positions of said first register wheel being a transfer position; shifting means including a ratchet wheel secured to said second register wheel for turning movement about said first axis, and an elongated shifting pawl movable between first and second positions for turning said ratchet wheel and thereby said second register wheel one step to the next following digital position;'spring means connected to said shifting pawl for urging the same to said second position;

and coupling means connecting said first register wheel with said shifting means, said coupling means including a coupling member supported for turning movement about a second axis parallel to said first axis and including a gear segment adapted to traverse a predetermined arcuate path during turning movement of said coupling member, said elongated shifting pawl being turnably supported by said coupling member for turning movement about a third axis parallel to but spaced from a plane including said first and second axes, said coupling member moving said elongated pawl substantially longitudinally between said first and second position thereof along a substantially straight path transverse to said arcuate path during turning movement of said coupling member, and a plurality of axially projecting pins connected to said first register wheel for turning movement therewith and meshing with said gear segment of said coupling member during turning movement of said first register wheel toward said transfer position whereby said coupling member'is turned so that said shifting pawl is moved to said first position, said pins including a pair of pins spaced a greater distance from each other than from the other pins and releasing said gear segment of said coupling member in said transfer position so that said spring means moves said shifting pawl in said path transverse to said arcuate path to said second position whereby said second wheel is turned to the next following digital position and a unit is transferred.

4. A transfer arrangement as set folth in claim 3 wherein said shifting pawl is angular and has a first arm connected to said spring means and a second elongated arm having a pointed end cooperating with said ratchet wheel; and wherein said coupling member is a bell crank lever having a first arm with a pivot supporting said shifting pawl and a second arm having a free end formed as said gear segment, said pivot being located in a plane including said second axis and which is substantially normal to said plane including said first and second axes.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED sTATEs PATENTS 366,945 7/1887 Felt 235 134 371,496 11/1887 Felt 235-134 723,906 3/1903 Osborn 235 144 FOREIGN PATENTS 18,545 1892 Great Britain.

RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

LEO SMILOW, LOUIS J. CAPOZI, Examiners.

C. G. COVELL, JAMES G. MURRAY,

Assistant Examiners. 

1. A TRANSFER ARRANGEMENT FOR AN ORDINAL REGISTER, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, FIRST AND SECOND REGISTER WHEELS RESPECTIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SUCCESSIVE LOWER AND HIGHER ORDERS, AND BEING TURNABLE BETWEEN DIGITAL POSITIONS, ONE OF SAID DIGITAL POSITIONS OF SAID FIRST REGISTER WHEEL BEING A TRANSFER POSITION; SHIFTING MEANS MOVABLE BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS FOR TURNING SAID SECOND REGISTER WHEEL ONE STEP TO THE NEXT FOLLOWING DIGITAL POSITION; BIASING MEANS FOR URGING SAID SHIFTING MEANS TO SAID SECOND POSITION; AND COUPLING MEANS CONNECTING SAID FIRST REGISTER WHEEL WITH SAID SHIFTING MEANS, SAID COUPLING MEANS INCLUDING A COUPLING MEMBER SUPOPORTED FOR TURNING MOVEMENT AND TURNABLY SUPPORTING SAID SHIFTING MEANS, SAID COUPLING MEMBER HAVING A GEAR SEGMENT, SAND A PLURALITY OF AXIALLY PROJECTING PINS CONNECTED WITH SAID FIRST REGISTER WHEEL FOR ROTATION AND MESHING WITH SAID GEAR SEGMENT OF SAID COUPLING MEMBER DURING TURNING MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST REGISTER WHEEL TOWARD SAID TRANSFER POSITION SO THAT SAID SHIFTING MEANS IS MOVED TO SAID FIRST POSITION, SAID PLURALITY OF PINS BEING SPACED ALONG AN ARC CONCENTRIC WITH SAID FIRST REGISTER WHEEL AND EXTENDING ALONG SAID ARC OVER AT LEAST 180* BUT SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN 360* THEREOF SO AS TO RELEASE SAID COUPLING MEMBER IN SAID TRANSFER POSITION SO THAT SAID BIASSING MEANS MOVES SAID SHIFTING MEANS TO SAID SECOND POSITION WHEREBY SAID SECOND WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE NEXT FOLLOWING DIGITAL POSITION AND A UNIT IS TRANSFERRED. 